Arsenal advance to second round

Updated: 25 February 2007 07:37 IST

Arsenal through to the second phase of the Champions League, beat Real Mallorca 3-1 at Highbury.

Written by NDTVSports

Read Time: 2 mins

Highbury:

An injury-time strike by Thierry Henry sent Arsenal through to the second phase of the Champions League as Arsene Wenger's side beat Real Mallorca 3-1 at Highbury.
Arsenal had to wait till the 21st minute before putting some pressure on the visiting Real Mallorca side. Patrick Viera was in with a long range shot, but it was blocked away by the Mallorca keeper.
In the 27th minute, Carl Ljungberg found Thiery Henry with a great pass, but the French striker's shot went wide. Henry has another chance to put the Gunners ahead but his first time shot went wide again.
Mallorca looked to be under a lot of pressure from the Arsenal front line, and next with a chance to score was Dennis Bergkamp, but his chip over the keeper was wide as well. Arsenal was getting all the chances to score but failing to take the lead.
The Spanish side had to wait till the 53rd minute, before having their first chance at scoring, but Alejandro Campano left completely unmarked couldn't find the target.
Eight minutes later, another Ljunberg's long cross was stroked into the goal by Robert Pires, as Arsenal finally took the lead.
Two minutes later, the home side doubled their lead after a good cross in from Giovanni van Bronckhorst was headed home by Big Dennis. It was Bergkamp's fourth goal of the season. Henry showed some brilliant ball control to beat two defenders, but his final shot at goal went wide.
Mallorca pulled one back in the 74th minute, Alvaro Novo beating the Arsenal keeper and slotting the ball into the empty net. Arsenal, however, restored their two goal advantage in injury time.
A quickly taken van Bronckhorst found Henry one on one with the Mallorca goalkeeper. The French striker calmly knocked the ball past Franco as the Gunners won the match 3-1.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger looked delighted with the result, as the London side confirmed their place in the second round.